What’s in a name? Tracking the classic Mini’s moniker

Success, it’s often said, has many fathers, while failure is an orphan. In the automotive world, nowhere is that more evident than behind the highly branched family tree of the immensely successful classic Mini. Tracking and charting the many Mini models produced over the years, under numerous brand and model names, is a task worthy of a doctoral thesis or well-funded, long-term government project.

This much is clear: Prompted by fuel shortages brought on by the Suez Crisis of 1956, British Motor Corporation (BMC) tasked designer Sir Alec Issigonis with creating a saloon car with room for four adults and fuel efficiency to rival microcars. The end result debuted on August 26, 1959, under the Austin Seven (or Austin Se7en, as it was sometimes written) and Morris Mini-Minor brand names.

The Austin Seven name lasted from 1959 until 1961, when it became the Austin Super Seven. That changed again in 1962, when the car was renamed the Austin Mini; Morris, meanwhile, used the Mini-Minor name until the launch of the second generation in 1967.

Meanwhile, parent BMC became British Motor Holdings (BMH) in 1966, and British Leyland in 1968. Following the launch of the second generation Mini in 1967, Morris adopted the same Mini name used by sister brand Austin. That lasted until 1969, when Mini became a stand-alone marque, dropping both the Morris and Austin names. Parent British Leyland became part of the Rover Group in 1986, which built the classic Mini until the final car rolled off the Longbridge, England, assembly line in 2000.

As with any car that enjoys more than four decades of production, the Mini saw many revisions over its lifespan. Following 1967’s Mark II, subsequent versions included the Mark III, launched in 1969; the Mark IV, launched in 1976; the Mark V, launched in 1984; the Mark VI, launched in 1990 and the final Mark VII, which lasted from 1996 to 2000.

A Mini Cooper S runs the Rallye Monte Carlo

While that explains (in very simplified terms) the history of the classic Mini name, there’s also the Mini Cooper to factor into the equation. In 1961 racer and car builder John Cooper added a more powerful engine, a close-ratio gearbox, front disc brakes and wider tires to the Mini, which became known as the Mini Cooper. The Mini Cooper S, simply a faster and better handling Mini Cooper, was introduced in 1963. Austin sold the car as the Austin Seven Cooper in 1961, changing it to the Austin Mini Cooper in 1962, while Morris began using the Mini-Cooper name (with hyphen) in 1961.

If you’re not confused yet, ponder this: Over its 41-year lifespan, the classic Mini spawned variants ranging from panel trucks (the Mini Van) through station wagons (Morris Mini Traveller and Austin Mini Countryman) and utility vehicles (the Mini Moke). There was even a pickup version built on the Mini Van platform, as well as more upscale (and slightly restyled) versions sold under the Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf names. The Mini was built under license by other brands, too, such as Italy’s Innocenti and Spain’s Authi.

1966 Mini Moke

Sadly, American consumers only had access to the classic Mini for a limited period of time. Roughly 10,000 were sold on these shores between 1960 and 1967, before safety regulations implemented for 1968 precluded the cars from U.S. sales.

Graeme Bucknellsays:

April 8, 2013 9:47 am

The (real)Mini changed motoring seemingly everywhere, not least “Down Under” here in Australia. Having driven & owned so many varieties, I have to say that despite its total lack of virtually everything and being totally impractical, the best, most “fun” car of any type I ever drove, is the MOKE. In reality not too many were made but they were everywhere, and so many people have fond memories of “their Moke”, usually at a holiday resort. Can you see one drive past & not smile?

GeoffGsays:

April 8, 2013 10:13 am

Back in the 60’s I had an Austin Seven (rather gutless) followed by a Morris Mini-Cooper 998 (much more fun). I hanker after one still – roomy, nimble, easy to park, simple and cheap to maintain, fun to drive. In 2013, there is still a thriving business in remanufacturing Mini parts, upgrades and special versions in UK. Long may the Mini live!

Jimsays:

August 16, 2016 11:12 am

Geoffg,
The first Morris Mini-Cooper was a 997cc and was followed by the Cooper S with the 1071 engine
The 997 was the 848 cc Mini engine with a longer stroke, larger valves and ports, a cam and dual SU carbs.
It also had the shorter shifter with a close ratio trans and a great set of disk brakes

Scotty Gsays:

April 8, 2013 10:43 am

My wife got a “Mini” (new one) in July of 2011 and it sure is a cool “little” car. But, God help you if you don’t have a warranty. Wow, that thing is in the shop all the time and it’s brand new! I sure like the classic Minis and I’m guessing they’re not any more unreliable as the new ones are.

Kurt Ernstsays:

April 8, 2013 11:06 am

Scotty Gsays:

April 8, 2013 3:58 pm

Kurt, isn’t that the truth. And we (we as in, society in general) think all things new are so much better than the old ways. This car literally had 8 miles on it when we got it and in two months it was in the shop for two days to diagnose why my wife would come out to her car and the windows would be down 4″. It ended up needing a new door actuator which was “rusty”. Rusty after less than 500 miles. So much for all things new being better.

Kurt Ernstsays:

April 8, 2013 4:51 pm

Scotty, I’ve owned a lot of cars over the years, but the most problematic of all was a 2004 BMW 325ci, purchased new. No other car, before or after, spent so much time in the shop, and no other manufacturer (including VW) was as indifferent about customer satisfaction.

TCsays:

April 8, 2013 10:53 am

I had a 1967 Cooper S with every available Downton performance accessory including alloy cross flow head and single two throat Weber. It
was red with white top grey interior with its little bit bigger Minilite 12″ wheels it was pretty aggressive looking. Not really all that fast it was so much fun to drive and the handling while quite different was very quick and able to change direction and slide thru corners looking all the race car it thought it was! Great car!

April 8, 2013 1:40 pm

art smithsays:

April 8, 2013 5:05 pm

I miss much my Minis! I had 2 Austin Cooper S’s. First 1 was a new 1966, 1275cc Cooper S, with twin tanks, sump guard, and even R6 Dunlops from the factory. I bought it new while in the Navy in Rota Spain. It only cost $1870., total shipped tp Spain from the fact. in England. The 2nd 1 was a 1968 was also a 1275 Cooper S I bought from a friend in N. Ca. It was a Mark 2 model. Wish I still had them both!! Have many good memories about driving my Mini around Spain, and Europe! art smith, brooklet, ga.

Brucesays:

April 8, 2013 5:16 pm

Excellent article. I’m a long-time Mini fan (and owner) and the information provided was totally accurate. One thing not mentioned is the fact the Mini actually changed our language. It was fashion designer Mary Quant’s car, an Austin Mini, that inspired her to name the ultrashort skirt she created as the mini-skirt. From there, the prefix “mini-” was used on an ever-growing list of words. Going on a short break? Must be a mini-vacation. A computer smaller than a mainframe? Must be a minicomputer. Apple, being different, calls it an Ipod Mini instead of the other way around. But the influence of the car, and the name, goes on and on.

Vinny in Sydneysays:

April 8, 2013 6:27 pm

I used to drive an early, sliding window, 850 mini. As with all Minis it was notorious for failing when you went through any water. Then someone told me you need to keep a rubber glove in the car with the finger tips cut off, so you can slip it over the distributor, a finger keeping each lead dry, and an elastic band around the base!

Mike Nelsonsays:

April 12, 2013 11:43 am

Something is not quite correct about all this. My second year of college I travelled across transcanada #1 in a Mini Morris also known as an austin Seven the only difference was a slightly different grill.
Your article gave the impression that the Morris name came in the later 60’s
Can you clarify?
Oh, this was 1960

Kurt Ernstsays:

April 12, 2013 12:51 pm

Mike, officially, the Morris was called the Mini-Minor at launch, but adopted the more conventional Morris Mini name in 1967 when the second generation was launched. The car’s original name was chosen to play on the popularity of the existing Morris Minor.

Regardless of the car’s “official” name, I believe it was frequently referred to as the “Morris Mini” back in the day.

Also, the bulk of my research was taken from a British source, so perhaps exported models were badged differently.

Jimsays:

August 16, 2016 11:19 am

John Byrdsays:

April 13, 2013 6:30 pm

We have a ’63 Mini that was originally an 850, now a 998 single carb. I bought it in ’88, put a new fan belt on it and started driving. We later “fixed it up” with gaudy paint, wheels, small spats, fresh interior, and sticky tires. This little guy is family ! We moved from Tennessee to Alabama, then to Hawaii, and take him everywhere with us. I have really embarrassed some guys that tried to keep up with me on narrow roads and in traffic, and it always attracts a lot of attention. Parking beside a fancy high dollar car at a show is particularly fun, our little guy always gets more attention. These cars are just a blast, and so far we have replaced one headlight and the tiny, mysterious wire in the distributor. That is the total amount of repairs since ’88 !!! It gets great mileage, makes a proper spot on the garage floor to mark it’s place, and always makes the day better when we drive it. They could have easily named the little car Smile or Laugh and it also would have fit. Thanks for the article, John

cjclemenssays:

January 29, 2015 12:39 pm

JLsays:

April 14, 2013 1:29 pm

Yup the US one was called the Austin America.
For those few years it was here. In both 2 and 4 dr sedans. For it’s time it was kinda innovative spacious interior, tho a little under par in trunk space, 4 sp automatic. There are still a very few left of them on the road in the US. Sadly it was replaced by the more backward Austin Marina (that was the name it got in the US).
And with many Brit imports at the time horrible build quality. So it’s not surprising that it didn’t last very long in the US in that form. Too bad the current one doesnt come in a 4 dr with a spacious interior and trunk (not I don’t mean the Clubman)

January 29, 2015 10:14 am

Gary Colesays:

April 16, 2013 2:11 am

Great article. Still have my 67 Austin Woody in the garage. Always turns heads and many stories behind it. RHD -brought back a Riley Elf and Coupe from UK when in the USAF. The Elf (snooty Mini) and Coupe are long gone. I will not part with this little 850 wagon. Cute as Raquel Welch in a mini-skirt.

Kit Fostersays:

April 17, 2013 10:59 pm

David K. Adamssays:

January 29, 2015 9:52 am

Speaking of the Mini fitting on to the background boat- a common sight on European rivers in the ’70s was a mini sitting crosswise on the bow of many a commodity-carrying riverboat plying the Rhine or Maas. I suppose the Captain carried a pair of long planks to drive it on/off in port. DKA

Jim Moffattsays:

January 31, 2015 10:49 am

January 1963 I purchased a new Mini-Copper for $1798.It was powered by a 997 cc motor and was fun.
At some point there was a fiberglass version that looked like a Studebaker Avanti.
There was also the twin mini with a second power plant in the rear Jim

David K. Adamssays:

January 31, 2015 1:05 pm

A last comment, perhaps- If there is anyone on this thread who has not seen the original film “The Italian Job,” their mini (original) experience is quite incomplete. Should still be around (from decades ago) on CD, etc.

Toivoksays:

August 15, 2016 5:38 pm

Cameron Milnesays:

December 7, 2017 6:23 pm

In Canada I remember the Austin Mini & what I recall as being the Morris Mini Minor. There was a Countryman wagon in my neighborhood back in the 1960s, really neat but uncommon. While 1967 was the last year for the Mini to be brought into the U.S., in Canada you could still buy a new Mini through 1980, albeit with small 5-mph bumpers that didn’t look characteristically intimidating (more like taped hockey sticks).

They were the cheapest new car sold in Canada, at least in the 1970s. They even imported special edition models around 1976 with real wooden dashboards, and as I recall, a multi-coloured striped mid-section on the sides of the car.

I can remember a friend’s older brother needing to change a tire; when the jacking point was too rusty on his sliding window ’63 Mini, a few of us just leaned on the car and put it up on 2 wheels while he took his time changing the tire. I also remember loads of minis in 1970 racing at Cayuga Speedway on a figure 8 circuit.

Being so close to the road, even at the speed limit it felt like you were flying. That’s one way to have fun legally.

They were certainly a ground breaking car that eventually lead to a paradigm shift in small car design, although it would take until the mid-1970s to gain mainstream acceptance, with little cars called Civic & Rabbit. Fiat 128s weren’t exactly mainstream, though they certainly got the Mini concept well enough.